Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-03


him. Il might, very possibly, have declined
to sleep in the room if you had reserved it,n
be said. "Do you wish me to leave the hotelf
The manager saw the error that he had
committed and hastened to repair it. Ser
tainly not, sr We will do our best to make
you comfortable while you stay with us.
beg your pardon II l have said anything to
offend you. The reputation Of an establish
ment like this Is matter of very serious i'm
portance. May hope that you will do US
the great favor to say nothing about what has
happened up stairsa The two French gentle
men have kindly promised to keep it a secret"
This apology left Francis no polite alterna-
tive but to grant the managers request.
There is an end to the countess wild
scheme" he thought to himself, as he retired
for the night. 80 much the better for the
countessm
He rose late the next morning. Inquiring
for his Partisan friends, be was informed that
both the French gentlemen had left for Milan.
As he crossed the hall on his way to the
restaurant he noticed the head porter chalk
ing the numbers Of the rooms on some articles
of luggage which were waiting TO go up
stairs. One trunk attracted his attention by
the extraordinary number of old travelling
labels left on it. The porter was marking it
at the moment-and the number was "l3A.n
Francis instantly looked at the card fastened
on the lid 1t bore the common English
name, AIRS. Jamesln He at once inquired
about the lady. She had arrived early that
morning, and she was then in the reading
room. Looking into the room he discovered
lady in it alone. Advancing little nearer
ha ,,.,A lIF.ls aalf 70 70. rHtl ~.
confess
She was seated in dark corner with her
head down and her arms crossed over her
bosom 'Yes," she said, in q tone of weary
impatience, before Francis could speak to
her, Al thought it best not to wait for you'll
determined to get here before anybody else
could take the ROOM"
"Have you taken it for longi" Francis
asked
"You told me Miss lockwood would be
here in weeks time. / have taken it for a
week."
"What has Miss Lockwood to do with lts"
aShe has everything to do with it-she
must sleep in the room. l shall give the
room up to her when she comes here"
Francis began to understand the supersti-
tious purpose that she had in view. Are
you, an educated woman, really of the same
opinion as my sisters maidi" be exclaimed.
assuming your absurd superstition to be a
serious thing, you are taking the wrong
means to prove it true. II and my brother
and sister have seen nothing, how should
Agnes lockwood discover what was not re-
vealed to usl She is only Instantly related
10 the Montbarrys-she is only'our cousin"
"She was nearer to the heart of the Mont
barry who is dead than any of you," the
countess answered, sternly $40 the last day
of his life my miserable husband repented his
desertion OF her. She will see what none Of
you have seen-she shall have the room"
Francis listened, utterly at loss to &C.
count for the motives that animated her Il
don't see what interest you have in trying
this extraordinary experiment" he said
st Is my interest not to try i'll 1t is my
interest TO fly from Venice and never set eyes
on Agnes Lockwood or any of your family
againl"
"What prevents you from doing thatT'
She started to her feet and looked at him
| wildly Il know no more what prevents me
| than you do" she burst out. "Some will that
| is stronger than mine drives me on TO my de-
struction in spite of my own self" She sud
| denly sat down again and waved her hand
| for him to 60 leave me-" she said Leave
me to my thoughts"
| Francis left her, firmly persuaded by this
time that she was out of her senses For the
| rest OF the day he saw nothing of her. The
/ night, so far as he knew, passed quietly. The
next morning he breakfasted early, deter.
| mined to wait in the restaurant for the ap-
pearance Of the countess. She came in and
ordered her breakfast quietly, looking dull,
worn and self absorbed, as she had looked
when he last saw her. He FASTENED to her
table and asked IL anything had happened III
the night.
Nothing" she answered.
"You have rested as well as usual"
"Quite as well as usual Have you had any
letters this mornings Have you heard wher
she is comingP
Il have had no letters Are you really go
ing to stay heref Has your experience o
last night not altered the opinion which yol
expressed to me yesterdayr
Mot in the least"
The momentary CLEAN of animation wbicl
had crossed her face when she questionei
him about Agnes died out of it again whel
he answered her. She looked. she spoke, sh
eat her breakfast with a vacant resignation
like woman who had done with hopes, don
with interest, done with everything but tn
mechanical movements and instincts of life
Francis went out on the customary trav
eler's pilgrimage to the shrines of Titan an
and Tintoreto. After some hours OF absenc
he found letter waiting for him when
| got back to the hotel. 1t was written by hi
brother Henry. and it recommended him t
return to Milan Immediately. The proprie
tor Of a French theatre, recently arrive
from Venice, was trying TO induce the ia
nous dancer whom Francis had engaged t
break faith with him and accept hight
SALARY.
Having made this startling announcement
Henry proceeded to inform his brother tina
Lord and Lady Montbarry, with Agnes an
the children, would arrive in Venice in thre
days more, "They know nothing of our ac
ventures at the hotel" Henry wrote, ian
they have telegraphed to the manager for th
accommodation that they want. Their
would be something absurdly superstitious
our giving them warning which woul
brighten the ladies and children ont of tt
best hotel in Venice We shall be stron
party this tims-too strong a party fl
gnostsi 1 shall meet the travellers on the
arrival, of course and try my luck again
what you call the haunted hotel Arthl
Barville and his wife have already got as Fl
on their way as Trent; and two of the lady
relations have arranged to accompany the
IN the journey to Venice"
Naturally indignant at the conduct of /
Partisan colleague, Francis made his prepar
items for returning to Milan by the train
that day. ...
On his way out be asked the manager If |
brothers telegram had been received T
telegram had arrived, and, to the surprise
Francis, the rooms were already reserve
II thought you would refuse to let any mo
! Of the family into the house" he said, sati
cally. The manager answered with the
dash Of respect in the same tone. "'N
13A' is safe, sir, in the occupation of a stra
ger. l am the servant of the company, a
dare not turn money out of the hotel"
; Hearing this, Francis said goodby-a
said nothing more. He was ashamed to {
knowledge it to himself, but he felt an irl
sistible curiosity to know what would happ
when Agnes arrived at the hotel. Besid
Mrs. James" had reposed confidence in hi
|, He got into his gondola, respecting the con
denee of "Mrs. James"
Toward evening, on the third day, Lo
Montbarry and his travelling companions
: rived, punctual to their appointment.
"Mrs. James" sitting at the window Of
room, watching for them, saw the new 10
. land from the gondola first. He handed
y wife from the steps The three cbildr